Shoppers Drug Mart was founded in 1962 by Toronto pharmacist, Murray Koffler. He believed that it was possible to build a national organization of pharmacies without sacrificing the personalized service of the local community pharmacist. With that in mind, he created the Associate Concept, which provides individual pharmacists with the opportunity to combine independent business ownership, professional practice and cooperative services under one brand, with the support of a corporate entity. This vision continues to be the cornerstone of Shoppers Drug Mart and the Associate-owners have helped build a brand that is synonymous with exceptional service, value and trust.

The first Shoppers Drug Mart store opened in Toronto, Ontario and was innovative in that it combined mass merchandising and self-service into a retail pharmacy format. Over the past 50 years, the retail format has continued to evolve and the Company’s drug store network has grown through acquisitions and new construction, helping Shoppers Drug Mart become Canada’s leading drug store retailer. Today, there are more than 1,242 Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix stores across the country. In 2014 Loblaw Companies Limited acquired Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation for $12.4 billion in cash and stock.